Succession by Design: How Visionary Leaders Prepare Their Organization for What’s Next, the first book from Erben Associates President Jim Erben, debuted at No. 38 on the USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist following its July 28, 2026, release.

The ranking placed the book among the list’s Top 50 titles and earned Erben national bestseller recognition. USA TODAY’s weekly list ranks 150 books across genres and formats using aggregated sales data from bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers.

For Erben, the recognition is meaningful not only as a publishing milestone, but also as evidence that the questions at the heart of succession planning are resonating with business owners, their families and the professionals who advise them.

Why the Message Is Resonating

Succession planning is often discussed as a future event: a sale, retirement, transfer to the next generation or change in leadership. In practice, however, the decisions that shape a successful transition usually begin years before that event occurs.

Business owners may need to consider how much the company is worth, whether it can operate without them, who is prepared to lead next, how a transition will affect employees and family members, and whether their personal wealth can support the life they envision after ownership. These questions are closely connected, and delaying one can limit the options available for the others.

That is the central idea behind Succession by Design: business owners are better positioned when they prepare for transition by choice, with time to coordinate the financial, operational and personal pieces, rather than waiting until circumstances dictate the outcome.

A Milestone With a Broader Purpose

“To see Succession by Design recognized on a national list with books from across the publishing world is an incredible honor,” Erben said. “I wrote this book to help business owners protect what they have spent years building and approach succession with greater clarity and confidence. We are excited that its message is reaching so many readers, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring the book to life and supported its launch.”

Erben draws on more than 30 years of experience advising business owners and their families. The book addresses business valuation, continuity planning, personal wealth needs, leadership development, family considerations and the role of a coordinated advisory team.

The goal is not to prescribe one exit path. A third-party sale, internal transfer, family succession or long-term ownership may each be appropriate under different circumstances. The more important question is whether the owner has created enough time, information and flexibility to choose a path intentionally.

What Business Owners Can Take From the Recognition

A bestseller ranking is a moment worth celebrating. It also creates an opportunity to bring a difficult but important conversation into the open. Owners do not need to have a retirement date or transaction in mind to begin planning. An initial review can help clarify where the business and family stand today and which issues deserve attention next.

That review may include:

• Business value and transferability: Whether the company’s value can be sustained through a change in ownership or leadership.
• Owner readiness: What the owner wants life, work and financial security to look like after a transition.
• Leadership and continuity: Whether the organization has the people, systems and decision-making structure to continue without depending on one individual.
• Family and stakeholder alignment: How expectations, roles and communication may affect the transition.
• Advisory coordination: Whether legal, tax, financial, insurance and business recommendations support the same long-term objectives.

Beginning early does not lock an owner into a decision. It does the opposite: it creates more room to improve the business, prepare people and evaluate alternatives before the timeline becomes urgent.

Continuing the Conversation

The USA TODAY recognition expands the audience for a message Erben Associates has emphasized for decades: succession is not simply a transaction to complete at the end of an owner’s career. It is an ongoing planning process that connects the future of the business with the future of the owner, the family and the people who depend on the organization. More information about Succession by Design is available at SuccessionByDesignBook.com. The full rankings are available on the USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist.